Maps of Pennsylvania to 1850

William Scull. "A Map of Pennsylvania..." London: Sayer & Bennett, 1775. 26 3/4 x 53 1/2. Engraving. Original outline color. Tear into top margin 4 1/2" into image. Numerous short tears into right margin. Small spots in center near "Allegany Ridge" with a similar 2" stain near title. All tears expertly repaired. Strong strike with paper textures varying on original sections. Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers, p. 53; Hansen, Pennsylvania Prints, Item 2.

A strong, attractive example of William Scull's seminal map of Pennsylvania, a map oft referred to as the 'Revolutionary War map' of the state. The information depicted on the map is far and away the most comprehensive and accurate for any map of Pennsylvania to that date, and for years thereafter; a fact that in part reflects its history. In 1759, Nicolas Scull, the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania and William Scull's grandfather, issued a map of the eastern parts of Pennsylvania commissioned by the colony's government. This was based to a great extent upon Nicolas' surveys and other first hand information, making it the standard for all subsequent maps. About ten years later, William Scull produced an updated map of Pennsylvania, basing it upon his grandfather's map as well as on his own new surveys and other information. The first edition of this map, issued in small numbers, is extremely scarce and valuable. Five years later, Sayer and Bennett issued this further updated edition in Jefferys' North American Atlas of 1775. $5,200

An early American published map of Pennsylvania, based mostly on Reading Howell's important map of 1792. Much topographical information is shown, with rivers especially prominent. Forts, towns and smaller settlements are detailed, including in the less developed western parts of the state. Counties are named and major roads are indicated. An interesting map at the beginning of the nineteenth century. $175

Matthew Carey. "Pennsylvania." from Carey's American Pocket Atlas. Philadelphia: M. Carey, 1801. Engraving. With margins and folds as issued. Very good condition.

A map from the second edition of Carey's American Pocket Atlas, published in 1801. This is a significant, early atlas issued by Mathew Carey, the first American to specialize in cartographic publishing. Carey, an Irish immigrant, set up an elaborate cottage system of craftsmen for engraving, printing, and coloring his maps, utilizing the best independent artists directed to a common end. Carey is important, then, not only for the excellent maps he produced, but for his setting the pattern for American map publishing, to be followed by the likes of John Melish and Henry S. Tanner.

The Pocket Atlas contained 19 small folding maps of the different states and territories in the United States. Carey's maps contain the most accurate and detailed information on the country and he updated his maps for each edition of his atlas. $275

An excellent map from an early American atlas. The maps were the works of Aaron Arrowsmith, one of the foremost cartographers of his era, and Samuel Lewis, one of the leaders in the nascent American cartographic field. This map of Pennsylvania is a fine example of Lewis' output. Detail of the settlement in the state, along with topographical information is neatly portrayed. Roads and counties are also shown. A fine example of some of the best American cartography of the period. OUT ON APPROVAL JC

An important map of Pennsylvania by Mathew Carey, one of the seminal figures in early American Cartography. Published during the War of 1812, this map is from Carey's Atlas which represented the best American cartographic work of the period. Carey, an Irish immigrant, established the first American specialized cartographic publishing firm. He set up an elaborate cottage system of craftsmen for engraving, printing, and coloring his maps utilizing the best independent artists directed to a common end. Carey is important, then, not only for the excellent maps he produced, but for his setting the pattern for American map publishing, to be followed by the likes of John Melish and Henry S. Tanner. This map of Pennsylvania, Carey's home state, is a fine example of his work. Topographical information is neatly portrayed, including towns, rivers, mountains, and roads. The counties are named and indicated by light pastel coloring. Longitude is given both with a prime meridian at London and at Philadelphia. $825

Fielding Lucas Jr. "Pennsylvania." From A New and Elegant General Atlas Containing Maps of each of the United States. Baltimore: F. Lucas, Jr., 1816. Folio. Engravings. Full original hand color. Large margins. Fine condition.

A fine map by Baltimore cartographer, Fielding Lucas, Jr. (1781-1854). Lucas appears to have become involved in the publishing and book trade while a resident of Philadelphia from 1798 to 1804, when he moved to Baltimore. In 1807 Lucas joined Conrad, Lucas & Co., and then in 1810 he set up his own business at 138 Market Street. There Lucas first got involved in cartographic publishing with his New and Elegant General Atlas of 1816. In the second decade of the nineteenth century, through his Philadelphia contacts, Lucas was one of the major contributors to Carey & Lea's atlas of 1823. Concurrently with this involvement, Lucas brought out his own General Atlas, containing 104 maps of all parts of the world. Lucas, during his 50 years of residence in Baltimore, established himself as a prominent citizen of that city, serving as President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, President of the Board of School Commissioners, and as President of the Second Branch of the City Council. But it is for his important role in early American cartography that Lucas is best remembered. $325

In 1822, Henry Charles Carey and Isaac Lea published their American Atlas. This volume was based on Emmanuel Las Cases' Atlas Historique of 1803, with updated maps and text modified by Carey, a political economist. The sheets from this atlas are comprised of an engraved map surrounded by text documenting the history, climate, population and so forth of the area depicted. This map of Pennsylvania shows excellent and very up-to-date detail, with the river systems particularly well mapped, and the development of the state is graphically illustrated, with towns and roads depicted throughout the state. $575

An impressive and important American map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. From Tanner's seminal American Atlas, which was a monument in the early history of American cartography. Its format and size and detail made it probably the first American made atlas to equal the work of the best European firms. The atlas was well received and this established Tanner in his subsequent position as the leading American cartographic publisher. The state maps, all but two showing two states on a sheet, are wonderful historic documents of an important and dynamic period of American history. Tanner used Washington, D.C. as the prime meridian; as he explains in the introduction to the atlas, this was primarily because of a lack of an accepted European prime meridian. Each state is carefully mapped, using the most up-to-date information of physical features, towns, roads, trails, political boundaries, and other cultural details. This map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is typical of the quality of the maps from the atlas. $1,450

An early map of Pennsylvania by Baltimore cartographer Fielding Lucas, Jr. (1781- 1854). Lucas appears to have become involved in the publishing and book trade while a resident of Philadelphia from 1798 to 1804, when he moved to Baltimore. In 1807 Lucas joined Conrad, Lucas & Co., and then in 1810 he set up his own business at 138 Market Street. In the second decade of the nineteenth century, through his Philadelphia contacts, Lucas was one of the major contributors to Carey & Lea's atlas of 1823. Concurrently with this involvement, Lucas brought out his own General Atlas, containing 104 maps of all parts of the world, engraved by B.T. Welch & Co. of Baltimore and Young & Delleker of Philadelphia. These maps are amongst his finest works, and they well demonstrate the quality that Lucas brought to this nascent industry. The map of Pennsylvania with its early date and interesting information, is a fine example of Lucas' work. The river systems in the state are well delineated, and the towns and road system are also shown with exacting detail. Beautifully engraved and colored, this is an excellent map of the state by an important American cartographer. $650

Anthony Finley. "Pennsylvania." From A New General Atlas. Philadelphia: A. Finley, 1825. 8 1/2 x 11 1/4. Engraving by Young & Delleker. Original hand coloring. Very good condition.

In the 1820s, Anthony Finley produced a series of fine atlases in the then leading American cartographic center, Philadelphia. Finley's work is a good example of the quality that American publishers were beginning to obtain. Each map is elegantly presented, with crisp and clear engraving and very attractive pastel hand shading. Topographical and political information is copious, including counties, towns, rivers, roads and so on. Finley's work is a good example of the quality that American publishers were beginning to obtain in the early decades of the century. Finley was very concerned to depict as up-to-date information as was possible, and thus his map presents an accurate picture of Pennsylvania in the 1820s. An excellent map from the nascent American cartographic world. $250

In 1822, Henry Charles Carey and Isaac Lea published their A Complete Historical, Chronological, and Geographical American Atlas. This volume was based on Emmanuel Las Cases' Atlas Historique of 1803, with updated maps and text modified by Carey, a political economist. He considered himself an American foil to John Stuart Mill and the London economists who were proclaimers of "the gloomy science" influenced by Ricardo and Malthus. Instead of preaching overpopulation and degeneration of the human species, Carey illustrated the nations of the western hemisphere through maps that showed an expanding region with ample promise of developing into lands of great new opportunity and growth.

The sheets from this atlas, which cover North America, Central America, South America and the West Indies, are comprised of an engraved map surrounded by text documenting the history, climate, population and so forth of the area depicted. The atlas is particularly known for its excellent early maps of the states and territories of the United States. This map of Pennsylvania shows quite current detail of the state. The river systems are well mapped, and the development of the state is graphically illustrated, with towns and roads depicted throughout the state. The counties are colored with bright washes and the whole impression is very attractive. This is a fine verbal and graphic picture of the state in 1827. $525

Henry S. Tanner. "A New Map of Pennsylvania with its Canals, Rail-Roads & Distances from Place to Place along the Stave Roads." From Tanner's Universal Atlas. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, [1840]-1844. Engraved by W. Brose. 10 1/2 x 13 3/8. Lithograph. Original hand color. Very good condition.

In 1844, Carey & Hart issued an edition of Tanner's Universal Atlas, with updated maps of the various states. This is a fine example of the map of Pennsylvania from that atlas. This is the last edition of this map before it was transferred to lithographic stone and issued by S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr. $325

Separately issued maps of the nineteenth century have an importance in the history of American cartography that is little appreciated today. Maps issued in atlases usually sat on someone’s bookshelf, being looked at infrequently and rarely for practical reasons. Separately issued maps, on the other hand, were the maps that the tradesmen and travelers put in their pockets or saddlebags when they went on their travels around the country, being consulted for information on roads, canals and railroads, possible overnight stops, and so on. These maps, then, did not watch our history march past, but participated in the making of that history. Not only this, but as these maps were made to be used, they were opened and reopened time and again, subject to all the rigors of nineteenth-century travel, and like current road maps would have been chucked once out of date. Thus, these maps are quite rare, much scarcer than any other nineteenth-century maps.

Typical of separately issued maps of this period, this map is highly refined and carefully detailed. Roads, railroad routes and towns are clearly indicated making it a valuable transportation guide for the early 19th-century traveler. The four interesting insert maps add further precise information. Published by S. Augustus Mitchell, one of the leading American cartographic publishers, it is a fine example of his early work, and a wonderful Pennsylvania area artifact. $1,200

In 1816, the Pennsylvania State legislature passed a law to produce an official state map, and this project was given to the supervision of Philadelphia mapmaker John Melish. Melish called for each county to produce a standardized map, which he would then use to compile a full state map. He worked for six years on this map, which was finally produced in 1822, with revised editions issued in 1824, 1826, and 1832. As each of these maps was produced, one could see the internal growth and development of the state, with new roads and canals, settlements and other features making their appearance with each new issue. By the 1830s, however, it became clear that the tremendous growth of the state demanded an updated and revised version of this official state map. Civil Engineer William E. Morris was authorized to gather updated information from each county, and he proceeded to 'revise and improve' Melish's map, with the new engravings done by Philadelphia craftsman Edward Yeager. The map was copyrighted and first issued in 1848 and this example was issued a year later with some updating. The size of this map and its myriad public uses determined that the map would be issued in the format of a wall map. Its sheets were joined, mounted on canvas, and varnished so that it could be hung in public plates throughout the state. Added along the bottom of the map are several tables of information. These include: "Anthracite Coal Trade of Pennsylvania," "Public Works of Pennsylvania," "Approximate Estimate of Bituminous Coal Mined in 1847," and "Statistical Table Shewing The Prominent Features of each County." It map is a superb picture of Pennsylvania at mid-century and it is the last of the great engraved maps of the state. $6,500

"A New Map of Pennsylvania with its Canals, Rail-Roads &c." Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, 1849. 11 1/2 x 14 1/4. Lithographic transfer from engraved plate. Full original hand color. Spot in top margin. Otherwise, very good condition.

Another edition of Mitchell's fine map of the state, issued in 1849, the last year the Universal Atlas was issued by Mitchell. $325